Qin Li stood perfectly still, watching Qi Shan with an impassive face. In a flat voice, he said, "Qi Yuanliang, are you saying that includes your pride as a Literary Scholar and a strategist? It's truly astonishing to hear those words from you..."
Others might not know the "evil strategist" from several years ago, but Qin Li had worked with him for a time. He knew him.
Qi Shan loathed people bringing that up.
Just how much did he loathe it?
Once, an aide had used it to offend Qi Shan, embarrassing him at a banquet. Qi Shan hadn't lashed out on the spot. He'd even chatted and laughed with the aide. About a month later, when everyone had forgotten the incident, the aide was exposed for embezzlement and plotting rebellion. After being thrown in prison, he killed himself out of guilt.
His estate was confiscated, and his three clans were exiled.
Outsiders simply said the man had gotten what he deserved.
And indeed, he had. But someone had gathered the evidence without anyone noticing, brought it to light, then made a trip to the prison and scared the man to death. That someone's shadow had surely been involved.
Wasn't it interesting for Qi Shan to say this now?
Qi Shan scoffed. "Qin Gongsu, do you really know me?"
Qin Li said nothing.
"A leaf obscures the eye, and you fail to see Mount Tai." Qi Shan went on, "You don't know me at all. You're just self-righteous, convinced you understand me. Do you really know what sort of person 'Qi Yuanliang' is? Do you really know who's standing before you?"
Everyone knew that Qi Shan had two Ways of the Scholar.
One was Master-Slaying, the one that got his lord killed.
That was the one a handful of people